Labeling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a labeling apparatus and method of labeling containers, wherein the control of the labeling operation is dependent on the supply of the labels. Also, there may be used a continuous length of labels rather than individual pre-cut labels, resulting in a very high-speed operation. The labeling device includes a continuous supply of labels, cutting means for providing individual label lengths, adhesive applying means for printing the labels, and label applying means for applying labels to individual containers. Operating in conjunction with the labeling components are means for controlling and transporting an individual container between a container receiving and container discharge station, whereby the label is applied to the container before the discharge station, thereafter wrapped about the container.

United States Patent 1191 Hoffmann 1 Oct. 16, 1973 LABELING APPARATUSPrimary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt [75] Inventor: Wolfgang Hoffmann,Modesto, Assistant Examiner-J. V. Doramus Calif. Attorney-Stanley Bialos[73] Assignee: B & H Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Modesto, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 23, 1970 The inventionprovides a labeling apparatus and method of labeling containers, whereinthe control of [21] Appl' 5187 the labeling operation is dependent onthe supply of V 1 7-2 V the labels. Also, there may be used a continuouslength of labels rather than individual pre-cut labels, [52] US. Cl.156/521, 156/230 resulting in a very high speed operation. The labeling[51] Int. Cl. B32b 31/18, B321) 31/20 device includes a continuoussupply f labels cutting [58] Field of Search 156/521, 510, 297, means fidi i dividual label lengths, adhesive 156/230, 250 applying means forprinting the labels, and label applying means for applying labels toindividual containers. Operating in conjunction with the labeling compo-References Cited nents are means for controlling and transporting anUNITED STATES PATENTS individual container between a container receiving3,404,059 10/1968 Ritterhoff 156/521 and mtaiher discharge Static),whereby the label is 2,344,185 3/1944 Tuthill 156/521 pp to theContainer before the discharge station, 3,531,354 9/1970 Hetzinger etal. 156/521 thereafter wrapped about the container.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Oct. 16, 1973 3 Sheets-Shoat l 1NVENTOR Wolfgang HQF FMANN ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1973 3,765,991

S Sheets-Sheet 2 20a" 22a 7 Z 442 INVENTOR Wolfgang HOFFMANN A'I'TURNIL'Y Patented Oct. 16, 1973 s Shuts-Shunt s w? w w Q INVENTORWolfgan HOFFMANN ATTORNEY LABELING APPARATUS This invention relates toan apparatus and method.

More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method forapplying flexible indicia, such as labels, to containers.

Containers of many types require marking indicia to be applied to theirexterior surface for identification purposes. Thus, by way of exampleconsumer goods such as vegetables, soups, etc. are packaged in metalcontainers and a flexible wrapper is applied to the exterior surface ofthe container for identification of the commodity therein.

At present, the type of operation involved in application of labels tocontainers is relatively complicated and an expensive procedure.Normally, the labels for use in such an operation are pre-printed, cutand stacked in bundles of several hundred or more which are thensupplied to the packaging manufacturer. The labels must be manufacturedto precise tolerances, as any variation in their length and/or widthwill affect their runnability in a label application operation. Onesystem for application of the labels to containers operates on theprinciple of applying a pattern of adhesive to the container, andrunning the container over the uppermost label of a stack of labels,whereby the container picks up the uppermost label and the latter isthen wrapped around the container. The labels, stacked in a magazine ofa labeling apparatus, must be carefully loaded into the magazine inorder to perform properly. Thus, the labels must be fanned before beinginserted into the magazine to ensure that they will separateindividually to avoid the possibility of a container failing to pick upa label. Nonetheless in practice this does happen and there is aresulting loss of labels and production time, resulting in increasingproduction costs.

A further problem associated with present labeling systems is that thegrain of the substrate e.g. paper, is an important factor in applyingthe label to the container. Frequently, the label manufacturers willprovide labels where the grain of one batch runs in a direction oppositeto the grain of a further batch. Depending on the grain of thesubstrate, problems are sometimes encountered in application of thelabel to a container due to curling of the label in the wrong direction.

Still further, in using systems involving stacked labels, some downtimeis required to refill the label magazine, even when an automatic loadingmagazine is employed which is capable of receiving a further supply oflabels when the first supply is being used.

All in all, the use of pre-cut labels is a relatively inefficient mannerof applying such labels to containers, in addition to being costly. And,such systems employing this operate at relatively low speeds compared tothe production rate of the containers, so that normally an "in-line"operation is not possible without using two or more labeling machines.

With this invention, applicant has developed a labeling apparatus andmethod eliminating the above disadvantages of existing labeling devicesand methods. The apparatus and method of the present invention providesan improved system, capable of running at speeds double those of presentoperations.

in accordance with this invention, in a labeling apparatus, control ofthe labeling operation is taken away from the container and placed inthe actual label applying operation. To this end, in a labelingapparatus, there is provided transporting and controlling means fortransporting and controlling a container between a container receivingand container discharging station, with controlling means for retainingcontrol of a severed label from a continuous supply thereof,transporting the label to a label applying station, and for applying itto a container, all with a continuous uninterrupted motion. i

In greater detail, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, there isprovided a labeling apparatus including selecting means for selecting acontainer and supply thereof, container receiving and transport meansfor receiving an individual container from said selecting means at acontainer receiving station and for transporting said container to acontainer discharge station, label supplying means for supplying acontinuous length of labels, feeding means for feeding a continuouslength of labels from said supplying means, cutting means in advance ofsaid feeding means in the feeding direction of said length of labels,said cutting means being operated to sever individual label lengths fromsaid length of labels, label control and transport means for controllingsaid individual label lengths from said cutting means and transportingsaid label to label applying station, said adhesive applying means forapplying a predetermined adhesive to said label as said label istransported from said cutting means to said label applying station andmeans for applying said label in position with said container and forsecuring it thereto.

In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, there is provideda method of labeling containers which includes the steps of providing acontinuous length of labels, providing a supply of containers to belabeled, selecting an individual container, moving the selectedcontainer from said supply to a container labeling station, severing alabel from said supply thereof, applying adhesive to said label,contacting said container with said label and applying said label tosaid container. According to a preferred embodiment, a container, from asupply thereof, is selected and transported nonrotatably about its ownaxis but orbitally moved about a fixed axis, while being thus fixedlyclamped between its ends against rotation to prevent displacement whileit is moving about the fixed axis, to a container recieving station. Thestep of supplying a continuous length of labels is preferably carriedout by feeding a single layer or web of labels from a roll supply,whereafter an individual label length is severed from the supply andpresented to the subsequent adhesive applying operation. To this end,the label is preferably retained under control from the cuttingoperation and passed through an adhseive applying stationwhere adhesiveis applied to the label in the desired pattern. The step of applying alabel to a container is preferably carried out by moving the label injuxtaposition to the container e.g. by placing a portion of the label,namely the leading edge portion of the label onto the container, andthereafter rotating the container about its own axis on a relativelyflat surface for wrapping the label about the container.

The means for selecting and feeding a container may be any suitablemeans normally used in this art for this purpose. As is evident, thepurpose of such means is to select an individual container from a supplyof such containers, which supply may, for example, be fed from aprevious packaging operation. Such means may, for

example, be a screw (helix screw) feed means, which type of means isknown in the art of high speed can filling equipment, e.g. beverage canfilling equipment. A spiral screw feed is used to assume control over anindividual container after selecting that container from an array ofsuch containers. A screw feed will then feed the container to means fortransporting the container to a labeling station.

The term labeling station denotes the point at which the labels areapplied to the containers. According to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the labeling station preferably comprises rotatablemeans, means for rotating said rotatable means and control means forreleasably retaining the container presented thereto by said feedingmeans, transporting said container to and through said labeling station,and for releasing a labeled container thereafter. More particularly, thepreferred continuously rotatable means preferably comprises a rotatabledrum typearrangement having a plurality of individual containerretaining stations therein, each individual container station beingprovided with a releasable container retaining means. The rotatable drumtype-arrangement may consist of any suitable drum type of arrangementas, for example, a pair of spaced apart frame members, preferably of asubstantially circular shape, rotating about a central axis and drivenby suitable means as hereinafter explained in greater detail. One of thespaced apart frames is provided with a plurality of cooperating grippingmeans adapted to releasably grip a container at the point at which thecontainer is presented to it and thus hold the container againstrotation about the container axis, and discharge a labeled container ata discharge point. To this end, the gripping means may comprise grippingclamps for engaging a container and retaining it in juxtaposition withthe container station, the gripping clamps being operated by suitablemeans e.g. a cam mechanism. The cam mechanism may be constructed so asto permit the rotatable drum to receive a container, subsequently retainthe container, transport it to the labeling station and after labeling,release a container at the desired point.

It will be understood that in place of a rotatable drum-typearrangement, other equivalent arrangements may be employed as, forexample, an endless chain or belt, a turret system, each of which may besimilarly constructed to receive a container, transport it to thelabeling station and discharge a labeled container at the dischargepoint.

The label supply means may be any suitable device for mounting a supplyof labels. The labels will normally be supplied in roll form, containingseveral hundred or more labels in a continuous roll. To this end, thelabel supply means may include spaced apart supporting means adapted torotatably retain the labels about a central axis.

The label supply means preferably includes a tension and slack take-updevice, for creating the desired tension on the roll labels forpresentation to the apparatus. The slack take-up means may be aconventional dancer-roller arrangement.

The means for feeding a supply of labels to the labeling station mayinclude suitable drive means for engaging a single layer of label forms,e. g. a pair of spaced apart drive rollers.

The means for severing an individual label from a roll of labelspreferably comprises a single pair of cooperating cutting assemblies. Aparticularly preferred form comprises a first member in the form of arotatable drum having one or more cutting knives thereon and rotatingabout a fixed axis; the second member may comprise a stationary assemblywhereby upon feeding a predetermined length of label material betweenthe two cooperating assemblies, they are actuated to sever a label.According to a particularly preferred feature of the present invention,a stationary cooperating member may be mounted on a lever wherebymovement of the lever by suitable actuation means, e.g. pneumaticcylinder piston causing the stationary member to be spaced slightly fromdirect alignment with the rotatable member when no label is passedbetween the two members. It has been found that this type of arrangementprovides a longer life for the cutting blades inasmuch as there is nodirect contact between the two cutting members when there is no label tobe cut.

After severing a label length from the roll of labels, the label is thenplaced in juxtaposition with a rotatable vacuum drum or other suitablemeans located ahead of the vacuum drum which serves as a carrier for thelabel between the label cutting station and the label applying station.At the same time, while under the control of the vacuum drum, glue isapplied to the label.

The vacuum drum may be any suitable conventional vacuum type drumwherein a vacuum is created causing the label to adhere to the surfaceof the drum. Such conventional arrangements include a source of vacuumconnected to the drum, means for creating this source of vacuum, e.g. aconventional pump, with the surface of the drum being air-permeable.

According to a preferred embodiment, the surface of the drum used in theapparatus of the present invention may be provided with an air-permeableresilient material, e.g. rubber. The air-permeability may be a featureof the rubber or alternately the rubber may be provided with aperturesas desired.

The vacuum drum will also include the conventional vacuum cut-offarrangement to eliminate the vacuum at a desired label transfer point.To this end, the vacuum drum may also include a source of pressurizedair to help in the transfer of the label from the vacuum drum to thecontainer.

Suitable means are provided for continuously rotating the vacuum drumpreferably tied in to the main drive system of the apparatus. Theadhesive applying means of the present invention includes an adhesivebath, and means for applying or printing on to one face of a label adesired pattern of adhesive. The adhesive containing bath may be anysuitable type of container mounting, for example, an adhesive applyingroll. The adhesive applying roll is preferably in the form of a rollerhaving the desired printed pattern thereon whereby the roll will printon a label the adhesive pattern required.

According to a preferred embodiment, the adhesive bath may be springloaded whereby it is normally urged against the vacuum drum, withsuitable means for removing the adhesive applying means from contactwith the drum when the labels are not supplied. Such means may be, forexample, magnetic control switches. In this embodiment, the adhesivecontainer is preferably pivotably mounted for movement about a pivotpoint at one end of the container.

The label applying station of the apparatus includes means for bringingthe adhesive applied face of a label into contact with a container withthe container and the label continuously moving in the same directionand at the same speed. This may be accomplished by arranging the vacuumdrum and the rotatable means of said labelling station in alignmentwhereby the label is transferred to the container. Thereafter suitablemeans for rotating the container and thus wrapping the label thereaboutmay be employed.

In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive applying means will preferablyprint into a label, at the leading and trailing edges thereof, a gluepattern in a desired form. Thereafter, the vacuum drum, suitably alignedwith the rotatable means, will pass in close proximity to a container onthe rotatable means whereby the leading edge portion of the label isbrought into direct contact with the container, the label beingtransported from the vacuum drum to the container by cutting-off thevacuum of the vacuum drum and if desired, using a pressurized source ofair to aid in the transfer.

After the leading edge portion of the label is applied to the container,the container may then be brought into operative relationship to furthermeans for rotating the container about its own axis, and thus wrappingthe label completely about the container. To this end, the container maybe released from the container retaining means at the discharge station,and means for rotating the container about a fixed axis may then beemployed. Such means include, for example, a rotatable belt-type ofarrangement for spinning the container about a fixed axis.

The drive system of the present invention may be any suitable drivesystem which will be known to those skilled in the art for equipment ofthe present type. More particularly, the components will be operated ina time-related sequence whereby a label from a continuous supply thereofis severed, said label is brought into operative relationship with thevacuum drum, adhesive applied and the label subsequently placed injuxtaposition with a container fed by the rotatable means forcontrolling the container between the container receiving and containerdischarge station.

The apparatus of the present invention is applicable to many differenttypes of containers including round cans, irregularly shaped cans, etc.The type of label applied may likewise vary i.e. it may be a label forfully wrapping or likewise vary i.e. it may be a label for fullywrapping or surrounding a portion or the total container or a partiallabel adapted only to surround a portion of the container. The labelsmay be pre-printed or alternately, between the means for severing alabel length from a continuous roll and means for severing a continuouslength of labels, there may be included suitable printing means forprinting an otherwise blank roll of lables.

The type of adhesive used for applying these labels may be any sort ofsuitable adhesive known to those skilled in this art. More particularly,the adhesive will normally be ofa wet glue type. The apparatus of thepresent invention provides many advantageous features over the labelingapparatus of the prior art. More particularly, it permits a high speedoperation which heretofore has not been possible with existingequipment. Speeds of up to more than 600 containers per minute can bereached using the present apparatus. Accordingly, as previouslymentioned, the use of a continuous supply of labels in strip form hasmany advantageous features.

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now bemade to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodimentand in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an end view taken along the right hand side of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is an end view of the label control drum; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the drum of FIG. 3.

In the drawings, reference letter L denotes the labels and referenceletter C denotes a container.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the labeling apparatus according to thepresent invention is mounted at a frame designated by the referenceletter Fr. In general, the frame members are all designated by referenceletter Fr. Mounted to the frame member is a conventional container screwtype feeding device driven by the main drive system hereinafterdescribed. The screw feed includes a rotatable shaft mounting at itsfree end a gear pinion 102 adapted to engage a further gear pinion 104of the main drive shaft. Shaft 100 is mounted by means of bearing 106connected to a mounting plate 108, and includes a standard clutchmechanism indicated generally by reference numeral 110.

A conventional screw feed mechanism SR is connected to the shaft 100, isjournalled by bushings 112 and supports 114 to the frame Fr.

A source of containers e.g. cans, produced or supplied from a previousoperation, are fed to a receiving station generally indicated byreference letter R, where they may be aligned in a single row by use of,for example, spaced apart guide rails 116. The cans may be fed to thereceiving station R by suitable means e.g. a conveyor. Once at thereceiving station, the cans are individually engaged by the screw feedand fed to the subsequent operation. The means for receiving a supply ofcontainers, for feeding individual containers to the labeling operation,preferably consists of a vertically mounted rotatable drum indicatedgenerally by reference letter D. In greater detail, drum D consists of apair of spaced apart flanges and 120a extending from a central shaft 122from which they are journalled for rotation about the central axis. Theshaft 122 is driven by suitable drive means as hereinafter explained.

The flange 120 is a stepped lip construction defined by an extendingterminal portion 121 and a lower portion 123 forming therebetween anL-shaped container receiving edge, as shown in FIG. 2.

The rotatable drum D includes a plurality of container receivingstations located thereabout, and defined in the embodiment shown byreleasable clamping means adapted to contain by non-rotatably gripping acontainer at the station. To this end, the flange 120a includes amounting bracket 124 rigidly connected thereto, and journalling a shaft126. Mounted on shaft 126- is a rotatable lever 128 having at one end acontainer engaging surface 130. Mounted to the other end of the lever128 is a cam follower 132. The lever 128 is spring loaded on shaft 126whereby it normally remains in a closed (container retaining) position.

Operating in conjunction with the container engaging means arecooperating means for opening the container engaging means at thecontainerreceiving station and the container discharge station,designated by S1 and S2 respectively (FIG. 1). The container retainin-gmeans receives a container fed to the drum D, re-

tains it in juxtaposition with the container station on the drum Dthrough the labeling operation and discharges the container at a desireddischarge station S2.

The cooperating members comprise a stationary support 134 connected tothe frame Fr, carrying a guide rail 136 thereon. The guide rail 136 (asshown in FIG. 2) may be a curved plate, extending a distance indicatedby the bracket portion S1 and S2 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, during rotationof the drum D, the container engaging means, spring loaded and normallyheld in a closed position, will abut the guide rail 136 at the containerreceiving station S1, thereby opening the clamp to permit insertion of acontainer, whereafter the cam follower 132 disengages from the guiderail 136 and the container is retained at the station until such time asit reaches the discharge station S2 whereafter the same operation isrepeated.

Referring now to the label supply means and the means for feeding asupply of labels to a labeling station, a V-shaped supporting membermounts a pair of arms 200a and 200b which have shafts 202 extendingtherefrom. Each shaft 202 is adapted to mount a roll of labels, therebeing two shafts provided whereby a continuous uninterrupted labelingoperation may be carried out without the necessity of halting operationof the apparatus to replace a single roll of labels.

The roll of labels, indicated by reference letter L, may be journalledon the shaft 202; the roll of labels being placed between spaced aparttriangular retaining members, having fingers 204 connected to a centralportion 206 slidably journalled on the shaft 202. The mounting screw 210projecting knobs 212 threadably engages threaded end portions of webcontrol guide 228 to retain the roll of labels on shaft 202 throughlever 222 and cam follower 226.

In accordance with a preferred feature of this invention, and for thepurpose of maintaining exact alignment of the feed of the labels withthe labeling system, there are provided means for permitting minorlateral adjustments of the roll L on the shaft 202. To this end, thereis provided an adjusting means consisting of a threaded shaft 215 havingat one end a spindle 216; the shaft 214 threadably engaging at the otherend a threaded bushing 218 mounting it to the frame of the apparatus.journalled on the threaded shaft 214 is a threaded sleeve 220, thelatter pivotally mounting the lever 222 thereon. The lever 222 iscentrally journalled on the shaft 224 for rotating movement thereon. Theend of the lever 222 opposite the sleeve 220 is provided with a camfollower 226, positioned to. engage the web control guide 228, slidablyjournalled on shaft 202. Thus, by rotating the spindle 216, and byrotation of the lever 222, the web control guide can be moved axially onthe shaft 202 to effect minor adjustments of the positioning of the rollL of labels, to bring it into alignment with the labeling operation asrequired and to retain the entire assembly on the shaft 202.

The unwind system for the supply of labels may include a pair of spacedapart guide rollers 250 freely journalled on shafts 252 connected to aframe member of the apparatus. In advance of the guide rollers 250, afurther pair of rollers 254 and 254. Roller 254 not driven, isjournalled on a shaft 256. Roller 254', driven by the drive system, isjournalled on shaft 256'. Shaft 256' is mounted on a lever 402 which inturn is pivotally mounted on a shaft 404. Lever 402 is spring loaded bymeans of spring 260. Reference numeral 406 illustrates an adjustable rodconnected to the lever 402 (slidably connected) at one end. At the otherend, it is also connected pivotally to a lever 264. As the label web ispulled by drive roller 274, lever 264 will rise causing adjusting rod406 to release the lever 402, which in turn, causes roller 254 to applypressure to roller 2S4 causing the web to be driven and hence unwoundfrom the supply thereof. The additional web material in turn will causelever 264 to decend and hence act on the lever 402 in reverse and causeroller 254' to releive pressure on roller 254, thus halting sup ply ofthe label web.

The slack-takeup mechanism partially described above, also includes adancer roller assembly; the assembly including a freely mounted roller408 journalled on a shaft 262 of a lever 264. The lever 264 is pivotallymounted on a shaft 266, whereby the weight of the roller 408 and lever264 maintain a downwards pressure on the strip or web of labels as theypass over the roller 408.

After passing through the slack-takeup mechanism, and in accordance witha preferred feature of the present invention, the strip of labels maypass over a supporting surface 270 and through a registering deviceindicated generally by reference numeral 272. The purpose of device 272is to key-in an individual label in the strip of labels to correspond tothe length of the individual label to be cut from the strip. To thisend, the device 272 may be an electric eye (photosensing device) whichis well known in the art.

The drive means for feeding a strip of labels includes a driven roller274 journalled on a rotatable shaft 276 operating in conjunction with anopposed roller 278 journalled on shaft 280. Shaft 276 mounting roll 274is driven in a manner hereinafter described. The strip of labels thuspassed between rollers 274 and 278, pulled from the supply L thereof,and fed to the cutting and adhesive applying operations as hereinafterdescribed.

A preferred cutting device, illustrated in the drawings, includes asingle pair of cooperating cutting assemblies; the first comprising arotatable drum 282 journalled on a shaft 284 with the drum 282 mountinga pair of cutting bldes 286. The number of cutting blades may vary,depending on the diameter of the drum and the speed of rotation, etc.The shaft 284, rotating the drum 282, is driven by suitable means, inconjunction with the other components of the apparatus.

The second cooperating member of the cutting assembly is a stationaryshear member 290 which may be suitably mounted on the apparatus tocooperatively sever a label length of material. However, according to aparticular preferred embodiment and as illustrated in the drawings, thesecond cooperating member 290 is so contructed and arranged such that itdoes not directly contact the first knife member 286 during severing ofthe label length or when there is no label feed to the assembly. To thisend, the shear member 290 is mounted on a lever 298, which in turn ispivotally mounted on pivot 300. One end of the lever 298, designated byreference numeral 302 is connected to a fixed stop arrangement 304 whichin turn is mounted to the frame of the apparatus. A pivot 300 journallsa clevis 306 connected to a pneumatic cylinder 308. If desired, anadjusting arrangement similar to that described with respect to thevacuum drum may also be included so as to permit slight adjustments ofthe positioning of the shear member 290.

The piston assembly 308 is timed to actuate when no label feed isreceived between the cutting assembly. In this manner, the pistonassembly will draw the stationary member slightly out of position sothat the movable cutting blade 286 will not contact the stationarymember, and thus prevent wear on the blades. Actuation of the pistonassembly could be accomplished in several ways, for example, through aphotosensing device, etc.

Located in advance of the cutting assembly in the feeding direction ofthe roll of label material is a positioning roller 310 freely journalledon a shaft 312 connected to the frame of the apparatus. This rollerserves to position the label for a subsequent operation on a rotatablevacuum drum now to be described. The leading end of the label materialis placed in juxtaposition with the drum by the guide roller 3110 priorto it being severed by the co-operating cutting assembly.

The means for transferring a cut label from a cutting station onto acontainer, according to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings,includes a rotatable vacuum drum indicated generally by referencenumeral 314. This vacuum drum includes a central rotatable shaft 316journalled in the frame of the apparatus, the shaft being rotated by acentral drive system hereinafter described, with bearing 318 mountingthe shaft 316 against the frame. On the other side of the frame, bearing318a journals the shaft. 7

The drum includes a circular member 320 and opposed flanges 32012 and320a defining a recess within the surface of the drum for receiving alabel L. The drum 320 having a central aperture therein, is mounted onthe shaft and positioned by means of a stop member 322. The label recessareas between the flange 320a and drum 3211b is lined with an airpermeable resilient material, such as rubber or provided with air holesin it.

A source of vacuum (not shown) is connected to a friction plate 380,which includes a plurality of apertures (air passages), one such passagebeing designated by reference numeral 414. The drum includes an innerchamber, having a plurality of air conduits 416 therein, whereby whenthe conduit 414 registers with a conduit 416, a vacuum will be createdin the conduit 416. Extending to the outer surface of the drum are aplurality of further conduits 418 connected to the conduit 416, whichwill thereby cause a vacuum on the surface of the drum.

To achieve the proper timed relationship between the registering of thepressure plate and the drum and hence the two conduits 414 and 416 andto align with the leading edge of the label, an adjustment bracket 417is provided which is connected to the frame of the apparatus. Thisbracket mounts a rod 418 on which there is threaded a pin 420 which pinis rigidly connected to the pressure plate 380. By rotating adjustmentrod 418, an angular movement of the pressure plate is effected to causea change in the timed relationship between the pressure plate 380 andthe drum 320.

The drum 320 is held on the shaft by means of a friction plate 380adapted to engage the outer flange 320a of the drum. Friction plate 380in turn is held in place by means of pressure flange 382, spring loadedby means of spring 384 and which in turn, is held on the shaft by meansof a plate 386. Bolt 388 retains member 386 on the shaft. 1

The glue applying system of the present invention includes a glue bathin the form of an open topped container 390 containing a supply ofadhesive. A rotatable glue wheel, indicated by reference numeral 392, ismounted on a shaft 394 journalled in the side walls of the container390. The glue wheel 392 contains a desired pattern structure forapplying glue to a label.

The glue container 390 is pivotally mounted at one end on a shaft 396.In the other end, it is spring loaded by means of spring 398 abutting aflange 400 of the container 390 to normally urge the glue wheel 392against the label held by the vacuum drum 314. The magnetic controldevice indicated generally by reference number 402 is positionedadjacent the glue container 390 and is actuated by means of a solenoidoperating in conjunction with the vacuum of the vacuum drum 314. Thissolenoid unit (not shown) will detect a drop in the vacuum pressure ofthe drum 314, whereafter the magnetic control unit 402 will be actuatedto pull the glue roller away from the vacuum drum 314. In this manner,when there is no label applied on the drum, the glue container will belowered to prevent accidental application of the glue to the drum.

In the above described manner, the outer face of the label held by thevacuum on the drum 314 will be printed with glue. The glue is normallyprinted (and the glue apply wheel so constructed) to apply glue to theleading and trailing end portion of the label or as desired.

A label having the glue printed thereon, and retained by the vacuum drum314 which is rotatable in one direction about its axis, is bodily movedin one general direction about the axis of the vacuum drum where therotation of the drum D rotatable about its axis in a direction oppositeto the vacuum drum whereby the facing surfaces of such drums move in thesame direction brings a container fixedly clamped on such drum D intocontact with the label with the container moving in the same generaldirection as the label. At this point, the leading edge of the labelhaving the adhesive is secured to the container, the trailing edge ofthe label extending freely from the container as shown in FIG. 1. Thecontainer, upon being orbitally rotated further, towards the containerdischarge station, is then released from en gagement with the grippingmeans otherwise retaining it; at which point the container and label arebrought into contact with means for rolling the container about its axisand thus wrapping the label about the container. These last mentionedmeans include a pair of spaced apart rotatable wheels 422 mounted onrotatable shafts 424 (suitable means being provided for rotating one orboth shafts). Extending about the wheels 422 is an endless belt 420.Belt 420 engages the container and rotates it about its horizontal axisupon a track support shown in FIG. 1 to wrap the label thereabout.

The drive system, briefly summarized, includes a motor M, a gear box430, a drive sprocket 432 connected to a driven sprocket 434 through436. This in turn drives the main drive shaft 438 from where all movingcomponents are centrally driven. Drive sprocket 434 may be mounted usingany standard safety overload device.

Each of the movable parts are driven by suitable means connected to themain drive system such as belts and sprocket arrangements. Thus, asshown in FIG. 2, the label feed drive roller 274' is driven throughshaft 440 and clutch brake 442 by means of a variable speed pulley 444which is controlled by lever mechanism 446 providing manual or automaticadjustment of the rate of feed of the labels for the purpose of alingingprinted areas, where pre-printed labels are employed. In the case ofautomatic operation, this mechanism may be controlled through thephotosensing device 272 as shown in FIG. 1 and as previously described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A labeling apparatus comprising: selecting means for selecting acontainer and supply thereof, container receiving and transport meansfor receiving an individual container from said selecting means at acontainer receiving station and for transporting said container toward acontainer discharge station and having means for gripping the containerbetween its ends for nonrotation about its axis, label supplying meansfor supplying a continuous length of labels, feeding means for feeding acontinuous length of labels from said supplying means, cutting means inadvance of said feeding means in the feeding direction of said length oflabels, said cutting means being operated to sever individual labellengths from said length of labels, label control and transport meansincluding a rotatable vacuum drum adjacent to and facing said containertransport means for controlling said individual label lengths from saidcutting means and transporting said label to a label applying station onsaid container transport means, said container transport means and saidvacuum drum being driven in the same direction at the location wheresaid drum faces the container transport means, means for placing theleading end of the continuous length of labels in juxtaposition to thevacuum drum prior to severing of an individual label length, saidcutting means comprising a stationary shear member and a rotary cuttingmember both spaced from and ahead of said vacuum drum to sever saidindividual label length at a location away from said drum, and adhesiveapplying means for applying a predetermined adhesive to said label assaid label is transported from said cutting means to said label applyingstation, said label control and transport means being positioned toapply said label into juxtaposition with said gripped container and foradhering a leading edge portion thereof thereto while the container isthus gripped.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means is provided torelease said gripping means after said leading edge portion is adheredto a container, and means is provided for subsequently wrapping saidlabel about said container.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feed means forfeeding said container comprises a spiral screw feed, said screw feedbeing adapted to feed individually a single container to said transportmeans.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying acontinuous length of labels includes support means for mounting a rollof labels, means for advancing a single web of said roll of labels tosaid cutting means, said apparatus including a slack take-up means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, said apparatus including means foradvancing a single web of said roll of labels to said cutting means, anda slack take-up mechanism, said means for advancing said roll of labelsincluding intermittently operative drive means adapted to include saidweb and to advance it in conjunction with said slack take-up mechanism,said web passing between said slack take-up mechanism prior to being fedto said cutting means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said slack take-upmechanism includes a dancer roller assembly, said dancer roller assemblybeing adapted to move between a first and second position, said firstposition including means for actuating said drive means, said secondposition including means for disengaging said drive means from said rollof labels.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means is provided forrotating said vacuum drum about a fixed axis, a source of vacuumconnected to said drum, a source of pressurized air in operativerelationship to said drum adapted to aid in releasing a label fromcontrol of saiddrum to apply it to a container, said vacuum drum beingmounted in operative relationship to said adhesive applying means and tosaid transporting means transporting and controlling a container.

8. In a labeling apparatus for continuously applying individual labelsfrom a continuous web of label material to a succession of containers, acontainer transport drum continuously rotatable about an axis forreceiving a succession of containers, a plurality of container receivingstations on said drum, releasable means at each station for gripping acontainer between its ends for orbitable movement about said drum axisand for clamping the container against rotation about its own axis, arotatable vacuum drum adjacent to and facing said transport drum forreleasably holding a succession of individual severed labels cuttingmeans comprising a stationary shear member and a rotary cutting memberboth spaced from and ahead of said vacuum drum to sever individuallengths of labels from said continuous web at a location away from thedrum, means for placing the label web in juxtaposition to the vacuumdrum before severing of an individual label from the web, means forcontinuously rotating said drums in opposite directions to cause thefacing surfaces of said drums to move in the same general direction, anouter face of each label on the vacuum drum having adhesive appliedthereto, the vacuum drum being so positioned with respect to thecontainer transport drum as to cause a leading portion of a label toadhere to a clamped container on the container transport drum, means forsubsequently releasing the container with the label adhered thereto, andmeans after such release for wrapping the label about the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means is provided to apply adhesiveto a face of a label while on the vacuum drum.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said label wrapping means comprisesan endless conveyor for moving the container over a support track.

1. A labeling apparatus comprising: selecting means for selecting acontainer and supply thereof, container receiving and transport meansfor receiving an individual container from said selecting means at acontainer receiving station and for transporting said container toward acontainer discharge station and having means for gripping the containerbetween its ends for non-rotation about its axis, label supplying meansfor supplying a continuous length of labels, feeding means for feeding acontinuous length of labels from said supplying means, cutting means inadvance of said feeding means in the feeding direction of said length oflabels, said cutting means being operated to sever individual labellengths from said length of labels, label control and transport meansincluding a rotatable vacuum drum adjacent to and facing said containertransport means for controlling said individual label lengths from saidcutting means and transporting said label to a label applying station onsaid container transport means, said container transport means and saidvacuum drum being driven in the same direction at the location wheresaid drum faces the container transport means, means for placing theleading end of the continuous length of labels in juxtaposition to thevacuum drum prior to severing of an individual label length, saidcutting means comprising a stationary shear member and a rotary cuttingmember both spaced from and ahead of said vacuum drum to sever saidindividual label length at a location away from said drum, and adhesiveapplying means for applying a predetermined adhesive to said label assaid label is transported from said cutting means to said label applyingstation, said label control and transport means being positioned toapply said label into juxtaposition with said gripped container and foradhering a leading edge portion thereof thereto while the container isthus gripped.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means isprovided to release said gripping means after said leading edge portionis adhered to a container, and means is provided for subsequentlywrapping said label about said container.
 3. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said feed means for feeding said container comprises aspiral screw feed, said screw feed being adapted to feed individually asingle container to said transport means.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said means for supplying a continuous length of labelsincludes support means for mounting a roll of labels, means foradvancing a single web of said roll of labels to said cutting means,said apparatus including a slack take-up means.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 4, said apparatus including means for advancing asingle web of said roll of labels to said cutting means, and a slacktake-up mechanism, said means for advancing said roll of labelsincluding intermittently operative drive means adapted to include saidweb and to advance it in conjunction with said slack take-up mechanism,said web passing between said slack take-up mechanism prior to being fedto said cutting means.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, whereinsaid slack take-up mechanism includes a dancer roller assembly, saiddancer roller assembly being adapted to move between a first and secondpositioN, said first position including means for actuating said drivemeans, said second position including means for disengaging said drivemeans from said roll of labels.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein means is provided for rotating said vacuum drum about a fixedaxis, a source of vacuum connected to said drum, a source of pressurizedair in operative relationship to said drum adapted to aid in releasing alabel from control of said drum to apply it to a container, said vacuumdrum being mounted in operative relationship to said adhesive applyingmeans and to said transporting means transporting and controlling acontainer.
 8. In a labeling apparatus for continuously applyingindividual labels from a continuous web of label material to asuccession of containers, a container transport drum continuouslyrotatable about an axis for receiving a succession of containers, aplurality of container receiving stations on said drum, releasable meansat each station for gripping a container between its ends for orbitablemovement about said drum axis and for clamping the container againstrotation about its own axis, a rotatable vacuum drum adjacent to andfacing said transport drum for releasably holding a succession ofindividual severed labels cutting means comprising a stationary shearmember and a rotary cutting member both spaced from and ahead of saidvacuum drum to sever individual lengths of labels from said continuousweb at a location away from the drum, means for placing the label web injuxtaposition to the vacuum drum before severing of an individual labelfrom the web, means for continuously rotating said drums in oppositedirections to cause the facing surfaces of said drums to move in thesame general direction, an outer face of each label on the vacuum drumhaving adhesive applied thereto, the vacuum drum being so positionedwith respect to the container transport drum as to cause a leadingportion of a label to adhere to a clamped container on the containertransport drum, means for subsequently releasing the container with thelabel adhered thereto, and means after such release for wrapping thelabel about the container.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein means isprovided to apply adhesive to a face of a label while on the vacuumdrum.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said label wrapping meanscomprises an endless conveyor for moving the container over a supporttrack.